A meeting point of buyers and sellers within the Mutrah Corniche, the acclaimed and lively Mutrah Souq ought to retain pride of place on your travel itinerary to Oman.
Opening times
The Mutrah Souq is open from 8 am to 1 pm and 5 pm to 9 pm from Saturday to Thursday and from 5 pm to 9 pm on Fridays.
How do you enter?
Accessing the Mutrah Souq does warrant some practice and patience and to start things off, you will be seen entering through a two-storey, domed gateway located on the Corniche (opposite the traffic lights). Thereafter, you will move uphill and away from the ocean. Make it a point to never turn right at every junction for this will lead you back towards the sea. Although, part and parcel of being at the Souq is getting lost in the crowded alleys and narrow pathways that will afford you opportunities to people-watch.
What can you get?
Overall, shoppers can get their hands on traditional textiles, jewellery, and hardware together with a wide selection of Omani and Indian artefacts. With regards to the nitty-gritties that are sold under the timber roofing of the Souq, stylish wedding chests (mandoo) adorned in new thumbtacks brought from the Hajar Mountains would surely make you pause and ponder. Aside from this, aluminium dishes used for the purpose of serving Omani shuwa (marinated lamb) can be bought for not too steep a price while one complete alleyway dedicated to sandals would be quite the draw indeed. What’s more? If you fancy a rope-twined musket that was used during the Dhofar wars in the 1970s, then Mutrah Souq is the place to be at.
Bargains & payment
Though, haggling is very much accepted, do not expect excessive bargains. On the subject of payment, carrying cash will place you on firmer ground en route to securing a lucrative deal while cards are also welcome. In the event you seek a hotel in Muscat as your base, then consider Avani Muscat Hotel.
